Marriage Licensing

The cost of a marriage license may vary from county to county. In Lewis County the fee is $66.00, payable by cash or check only. Credit and debit cards are not accepted. Marriage licenses must be applied for at least three (3) days prior to the marriage and are valid for 60 days anywhere within the state of Washington. Failure to use the marriage license within 60 days will invalidate the license.

To apply for a marriage license, each party must be at least 18 years old and have picture identification. An applicant who is at least 17 years old may still apply for a marriage license, but must have parental consent. The parent must accompany the applicant into the office while they apply for the marriage license. An applicant under the age of 17 must apply to the Juvenile Court system in order to obtain a license.

Witnesses are not needed when you apply for your marriage license. Two witnesses are required at the time of the actual ceremony.

To officially change your name, you will need a certified copy of your marriage license. Certified copies may be requested by visiting the Recordings Department or by mailing the request form found below. The $3.00 per copy fee may be paid by cash or check in person. If requesting the copy by mail, complete the form below and submit a $3.00 check or money order along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you purchased your license in another county, you will need to contact that particular county as we only have access to licenses that originated in Lewis County.

Many counties including Lewis County also provide documents to the Washington State Archives' Digital Archives Website. Marriage certificates can be purchased through the Digital Archives Website with a debit/credit card.